With the effects of climate change worsening the state of our globe, it is more important than ever to contribute to environmental efforts. Small changes can make a big difference, whether that's reducing your food miles or adjusting your home to save energy. After all, the more sustainable your home is, the better your immediate environment will be. Read on to discover our top tips and tricks on how you can be more sustainable at home.
1. Get Gardening
If you needed an excuse to get out and start a garden, here it is. There are so many benefits to starting a garden, whether that’s a small flower patch in your front garden or a larger vegetable garden in the back. Carbon dioxide-loving plants and trees will help to reduce pollution in the air, helping you improve sustainability. Plus, once you’ve tried a sun-kissed homegrown strawberry, you will never want to buy a plastic pack of them from the supermarket ever again!
2. Make Your Own Cleaners
Some of the items you already have in the kitchen will work as effective all-purpose cleaners, and even better, cost far less than branded sprays and surface cleaners. For example, create a scented all-purpose cleaner using just white vinegar, water, lemon, and rosemary. This concoction works great for cleaning hard stains, for cleaning your rubbish bins, and will make your home smell beautiful and fresh.
3. Eat Your Greens
The food you eat plays a big role on the planet. Having a sustainable diet of organic produce, supporting local farmer's markets, and lowering your meat consumption will help to reduce the environmental impact modern food consumption has on the planet. Try swapping a couple of your meat products for vegetarian alternatives, such as beans, mushrooms, lentils or grilled vegetables. Swapping some of your meat for these will also reduce your food bill!
4. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reducing, reusing and recycling waste helps save landfill space by keeping useful materials out. The amount of energy needed to collect raw materials is immense, and implementing these strategies will help minimise them.
- Reduce - Cut down on the amount of waste you produce by being more mindful of the products you buy. Opt for waste-free packaging, or only buy things that you will keep for the long term.
- Reuse - Only purchase products that you can reuse, or repurpose waste into something useful. For example, only use rechargeable batteries.
- Recycle - Take recyclable products to your local recycling point and compost your food and garden waste.
Discover these 5 Sustainable Packaging Ideas to try in the home.
5. Save Energy
With energy bills set to hit an all-time high, now is the perfect opportunity to start adopting energy-efficient techniques that will not only save you money but also help the environment. Here are just some of the ways you can save energy to be more sustainable at home:
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Turn off the lights when not in use
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Put electronics on standby mode
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Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle
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Avoid tumble dryer use
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Have showers instead of baths
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Only use the dishwasher when it is full
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Fix any leaking taps or shower heads
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Draught-proof your windows and doors
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Install LED lighting
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Use energy efficient compliances, such as air fryers and slow-cookers
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Limit shower time
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Install a smart meter
At Make Space Self Storage, we are committed to operating sustainably to benefit both our customers and environment. Learn about our environmental strategy and what we are doing to help.